The document emphasizes the importance of social, mental, and physical skills for school readiness, advocating for a focus on play and movement rather than early academic pressures. It discusses the developmental stages of children from birth to six years and highlights the significance of parent-infant bonding, emotional security, and individual learning variations. The text argues against pushing children into formal education too early, suggesting that children succeed better when their physical and psychological needs are met.

1. Wake Up and Smell the Crayons Susan K. Stewart

2. School readiness “… social, mental, and physical skills that prepare them for classroom learning …” School Readiness: What Matters Most Rand Review, Fall 2004

3. Universal Preschool in California Creates Benefits that Surpass Cost “ Our analysis shows that an investment in universal preschool in California would provide a net economic benefit to the state.”

4. “ An increasing number of children suffer a ‘character disturbance’, emotional detachment and uncomfortable inner rage, and its origins can be traced to disruptions in parent-infant bonding.” The Assault on Parenthood Dana Mack

5. Birth through two years Physical Growth Holding head Controlling arms Sitting up Crawling Walking Half adult height

6. Language Listens Babbles Starts a few words Social Skills Smiles Responds to people

7. Three Year Olds Physical Active, Active, Active Short attention span “ God put the wiggle in, don’t you dare take it out.” Henretta Mears “ Movement is one of the most important components of learning.” Maria Montessori

8. Language Very verbal Why? No. Pretend Copy and imitate Social Plays next to other children Appear to be outgoing Develop bonding relationships

9. Four Year Olds Physical More physical control Still moving Language “ Read” books “ Write” Social Play with others Bossy

10. “ Do not feel that you must teach your preschooler to read.” “ Try not to feel that you as a parent ‘ought’ to be doing something special about your child’s intellectual life.” “ And here is where all too many parents make that fatal mistake, …. They start their child too soon.” Your Four-Year-Old, Wild and Wonderful Dr. Louise Bates Gesell Institute of Human Development

11. Gender Differences Girls Sit to do seatwork sooner Growth spurts earlier Boys Tend to be more active Later growth spurts

12. Child Development and Learning Children learn best when their physical needs are met and they feel psychologically safe and secure Children construct knowledge Children learn through social interaction with other adults and other children

13. Children learn through play Children’s interest and “need to know” motivate learning Human development and learning are characterized by individual variation

14. Opportunities for children to learn out of school Opportunities for adults to serve as role models Opportunities for children to become involved with and contribute to the community.

15. 85% of adult personality is formed by age six Character Social Spiritual

16. Character Development Love Learned in the family Help Help at home Sharing An act of kindness Children are naturally self-centered Giving Charitable activities

17. Social Skills Social skills are not socialization Three-year-olds can learn to shake hands, sit in a restaurant, ask permission to leave a room (Montessori) “ Yes, I’m concerned about socialization and that is why I have chosen to educate my children at home.

18. Spiritual Skills Prayer and/or meditation Religious Reading Singing

19. And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus 2 Timothy 3:15 (AMP)

20. Discipline Do it now Be consistent Watch for negative reinforcement Apply the Golden Rule Don’t give a choice you don’t mean What are triggers?

21. Curriculum Two-year-olds Crayons Books Blocks Open & close Pail, shovel, dirt Mom, Dad, siblings

22. Curriculum Three-year-olds Pots & pans, canned goods Begin cutting Sewing cards Obstacle course Books Learn parents name

23. Curriculum Four-year-olds Pencil and paper Books Matching games Puzzles Collections Maybe computer

24. Curriculum Five-year-olds “ We maintain that all too many boys and girls are virtually kidnapped into kindergarten long before they are ready, simply because they have reached some arbitrary legal age.” Dr. Louise Bates Dr. Frances Ilg

25. “ ‘ Kids who enter kindergarten at age 6 instead of 5 .. Do significantly better on standardized tests, and the gains persist beyond kindergarten .’ “ Ashlesha Datar RAND Associate

26. “ Keep those pencils out of their hands and workbooks off their desks as long as you can,” Dr. Louise Bates Dr. Frances Ilg

27. Curriculum Six-years-old Sort laundry (math) Watch grass grow (science) Read aloud Write name (language) Set the table (math) Go outside (P.E.)

28. What To Do With Baby It’s your school Informal learning Encourages independent learning Newborns Naps One-on-one time

29. Read. Read. Read. Involve older children Read Make up stories Practice flash cards Teach a younger child Games and puzzles Scrabble, Monopoly, Concentration Make shape puzzles

30. School Kit Crayons, paints, small toys Let everyone watch

31. Activities for the Family Local trips Zoo, pet store, fish store Pick your own farms Plays, concerts, museums Scrapbooks

32. Ideas From Moms Carry along shapes and colors White boards Magnet letters Paper on wall or table Toe painting in bathtub Take school outside